Opening of the Mobility Garden a celebration of community spirit and giving

14 December 2015

The Taranaki Health Foundation and Taranaki DHB are delighted to announce the opening of the Mobility Garden at Taranaki Base Hospital on Monday 14 December 2015 at 10am.

Bry Kopu, GM Taranaki Health Foundation said, “The opening of the Mobility Garden is a true celebration of community spirit and giving. If it wasn’t for the generous support of our partners, business and community supporters, the garden would not have been possible. Everyone’s generosity to make the garden a reality will make a tangible difference to the local Taranaki community.”

The Mobility Garden provides on-site rehabilitation to allow patients to practice mobilising in an outdoor setting that poses similar challenges to real-life situations. It also provides a warm, and welcoming environment for visitors and staff, an inspirational design and a covered area to allow greater use of the space in any weather.

Rosemary Clements, Taranaki Acting CEO said, “Taranaki Base Hospital is very fortunate to have the mobility garden for patients to spend time in during their rehabilitation as well as for visitors and staff to relax and enjoy. It really does illustrate what a community can create when we all work together.”

The Garden was designed by local architect and Foundation Trustee, Murali Bhaskar of Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects. Mr Bhaskar said, “I wanted to design a space that would meet the needs of those recuperating but also be a destination or draw card for those visiting or working within the hospital. The large timber structure will be a unique feature of the garden emulating a tree, but also forming a large open roof canopy.”

Ms Kopu said, “There have been many people and organisations involved in making the Mobility Garden a very user-friendly and attractive space for our community, including the Blind Foundation who have gifted a ‘sensory garden’ to mark the 125th anniversary of the Blind Foundation.”

Deb Ward, Executive Director of Culture, Engagement and Improvement for the Blind Foundation said, “This is a very special project, which we are proud to be a part of and we hope the sensory garden will provide an important sensory element for hearing and sight impaired visitors.”

Local resident and Disability Action Group member, Lance Girling-Butcher has worked with the Blind Foundation and the Mobility Garden project team and said the Mobility Garden makes a “dramatic enhancement to the entrance of Taranaki Base Hospital, helps those in need of mobility instruction, and is a restful sanctuary for the visually handicap to visit.” He also thought it would become, “another visionary feature for New Plymouth and added to the already long list of interesting architectural features in New Plymouth.”

The Taranaki Health Foundation and Taranaki DHB would like to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors and supporters of the Mobilty Garden…